Key

This line was added.

This line was removed.

Formatting was changed.

Length: usually prescribed (typically 500 up to 2000 words)

Purpose: to show to the admissions committee:

that you are committed to a graduate career, i.e. that you are sufficiently enthusiastic to not surrender to the first problems that come your way.know what doing a PhD means (tenacity, teamwork, resourcefulness);

that your previous decisions in life have been the result of careful planning and consideration.;

that you can think, write a coherent argument, and express yourself well.

The best way to write the essay is usually to focus on your interest for science, and to tell how it was first awakened, which stimuli you were exposed to, what you have done to develop your interest, what you gained and learned at Jacobs and at your internships, and finally how all of this has led you to apply to this particular graduate school, in this particular field. You should also mention that you believe you are now well-equipped to start graduate school because of your theoretical and practical training, and that you recognize how important it is to work productively with others within a research environment.

Other suggestionsin terms of style:

Enumerate your achievements (such as good grades and prizes) but do not show them off. Use them as indicators that your chosen career path is going in the right direction.

Do not belittle yourself, your effort, or your achievements.

This is not the place to list things that you cannot do, or that you don't find interesting.

Do not overly praise the institution you are applying to. They know how good they are, and they also know that you are applying to several other places.

But demonstrate that you know what is special about this particular institution, and give the impression that you know why you are applying there.

Use the active voice, especially when you talk about yourself. ("I found cell biology fascinating" instead of "Cell biology attracted me".)

Be as precise as possible. Use specific instead of general terms. ("I operated a gas chromatograph in a bioanalytical laboratory" instead of "I worked in a lab".)